Manchester City are reportedly facing the prospect of missing out on UEFA Champions League football next season, even if they win the Premier League..
Defending European champions Manchester City could miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League even if they were to emerge as champions of the Premier League this season.
City, who won both the EPL and the UCL titles last season, have already hit the ground running this season with a string of impressive performances.
Following the hampering of Bournemouth at the Etihad on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s team are currently sitting top of the log in 27 points, a point ahead of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, per the BBC.
The reigning European treble-winners have won nine of their last 11 games in the English top flight, with the other two of them ending in defeats.
Man City are enjoying a fine run of form in the Champions League as well and they are currently topping Group G with 12 points after defeating Yoing Boys Bern on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
Going by their current form, all signs point to them possibly challenging for both titles again this season.
However, winning the Premier League may not count as much, given that they could miss out on the top tier of European football regardless of their performance.
Sportbible reports that with City expected to finish in the top four, a Champions League dilemma could be presented to the club’s owners, the City Football Group.
This is owing to Girona’s spectacular start to their La Liga campaign. The Spanish side tops the standings with 31 points, meaning they could also qualify for the UCL.
However, their association with Man City’s owners could mean that one of the two clubs could miss out on a UCL spot. UEFA guidelines forbid owners to have more than two teams in the same European competition.
As such, the City Football Group could attempt to circumvent this by potentially selling Girona or reducing their shares to minority stakeholders.
